Aquila Martian Fighter
The Aquila-class Martian Fighter has been ARMOR’s standard design Martian Fighter
for more than a century. Martian Fighters are ARMOR’s designation for any fighter
designed specifically for combat in and outside of Mars’ Atmosphere. Due to Mars'
low atmospheric pressure, wings and aerodynamics are not factors in making a
vehicle fly. While most Martian Fighters are sleek and aerodynamic looking, they
depend completely on engine power for flight. The Aquila is no exception.
The Aquila relies on four separate engines to provide power to fly. The Aquila is
a fully loaded Mars-superiority fighter, featuring pulse lasers, internal missile
bays, and a forcefield. To help operate the top-mounted laser turrets and keep track
of the radar and the onboard systems, the Aquila also carries a Radar Operator
and a Gunner. The Rifts Earth edition of the Aquila has been of limited use to
ARMOR, and has since been fully superceded by the Tiercel Terran Fighter. At
this time, the Aquila is being used as an advanced scout craft for the
Battlecruisers, and as personal escort fighters for ARMOR VIPs.
Model Type: MF-9-RE Aquila Martian Fighter.
Vehicle Type: Aerospace Fighter.
Crew: Three; Pilot, Radar Operator, and Gunner.
M.D.C. by Location:
| Missile Bays (2) |
100 |
| Pulse Laser Mount |
75 |
| Pulse Laser Turrets (2) |
50 each |
| Pilot's Compartment |
110 |
| [1] Canopy |
90 |
| [2] Main Engines (2) |
75 each |
| [3] Engine Pods (2) |
125 each |
| Landing Gear (3) |
20 each |
| [4] Main Body |
275 |
| Anti-Gravity Pods (3) |
30 each |
| Forcefield |
200 |
[1] Destroying the canopy will expose the pilot to harm. Because it is such a
hard target to hit, there is a -5 penalty to hit it on a called shot.
[2] The destruction of one engine will reduce the fighter's top speed by a
quarter and give the pilot a 15% penalty to piloting. Destruction of both
engines will reduce the fighter’s top speed by half and increase the penalty to
30%. Even with both main engines destroyed, the fighter is still flyable, but
the pilot will need to make constant skill rolls to keep it in the air.
[3] Destruction of one pod engine will reduce the fighter's top speed by a
quarter and give the pilot a 15% penalty to piloting. Destruction of both
engines pods will reduce the fighter’s top speed by half and increase the
penalty to 30%.
[4] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the aircraft down
completely, rendering it useless and causing it to crash if in flight.
Special Note: Destruction of all four engines will leave the plane
completely unpowered and uncontrollable; only the most experienced pilots will
be able to land the fighter intact. The pilot will have -70% penalty to all
piloting skill rolls related to landing the craft.
Speed:
Hover on Ground (Taxiing): The Aquila has anti-gravity modules used for
limited hovering and vertical take-offs and landings. Hover height is limited to
40 feet, and speed without the engines is 40 mph (64 kph).
Flying: In normal atmospheric flight, the Aquila can reach a top speed of
Mach 5.5 on full afterburners. The fighter's normal cruise is about Mach 1
(965.4 kph) but varies on the situation. The fighter has a maximum non-boosted
altitude of 155,000 feet (48,750 meters). When on the fusion Ion Drive, the
fighter has no maximum height and is fully capable of independent space
flight.
Maximum Range: Unlimited. Fusion reactor powers Ram-Drives for
atmospheric flight and Ion Drives for space flight.
Dimensions:
Height: 10.5 feet
Width: 22 feet
Length: 34.5 feet
Weight: 32.5 tons, fully loaded.
Cargo: Minimal (Storage for small equipment and hand weapons).
Power System: Fusion Reactor has an estimated life of 25 years before
needing refueling.
WEAPON SYSTEMS
1. Shield Generator: Generates a defensive forcefield that protects the
entire aircraft during flight maneuvers. Normally used to block micro-meteors in
space and aid in reducing friction while in an atmosphere, the forcefield is
equally capable of protecting the fighter from moderate damage. The total MDC
for the forcefield is 200 MDC. The forcefield can regenerate its MDC at a rate
of 30 MDC per hour.
2. Missile Bays (2): Mounted above the engine pods of the Aquila are two
armored missile bays. These bays can carry either 30 short-range missiles or
10 medium-range missiles, depending on the mission-type. The bay is
usually outfitted with High Explosive (HE), Fragmentation, or Plasma missiles.
The missiles can engage air and ground targets. The Aquila uses an automatic
loading system for reloads.
Maximum Effective Range: Usually 5 miles.
Damage: Varies by missile type.
Rate of Fire: One at a time, or in volleys of 2, 4, 8, or 10.
Payload: 30 short-range missiles, or 10 medium-range missiles each;
10 short-range missiles ready to launch, plus 20 more in the internal automatic
reloaders.
3. External Missile Racks (2): Mounted outside each of the engine pods of
the Aquila is a set of two missile racks. These missile racks can carry either
medium or long-range missiles, which can be launched by the pilot or the radar
operator. These missiles can engage air and ground targets.
Maximum Effective Range: Depends on missile, between 50 and 1500 miles.
Damage: Varies by missile type.
Rate of Fire: One at a time, or in volleys of 2 or all 4.
Payload: 2 missiles each; 4 total.
4. Pulse Laser Turrets (2): Mounted above the pilot’s compartment are two
pulse laser turrets. These turrets have 360 degrees of rotation, and can cover a
firing arc from 45 degrees below the turret to straight up. They are usually
used against other fighters or incoming missiles. The lasers are focused to fire
on a single target, combining their damage.
Maximum Effective Range: 1 mile (2,100 meters)
Mega-Damage: 2D6x10 per dual pulse.
Rate of Fire: Equal to hand to hand attacks of gunner.
Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
5. Pulse Laser Mount: Mounted below the pilot’s compartment is a pulse
laser mount. It is used against other fighters or ground targets.
Maximum Effective Range: 1 mile (2,100 meters)
Mega-Damage: 1D6x10 per pulse.
Rate of Fire: Equal to hand to hand attacks of pilot.
Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
6. Special Equipment: The MF-9-RE carries all of the standard equipment
that robot vehicles carry (not including loudspeaker and microphone) plus the
following extra systems:
APR-207R Radar: Long range actively scanned array radar capable of
tracking both air targets and ground targets. The radar system also has terrain
following capacity. The fighter can track up to 50 targets simultaneously and
can target and fire on up to 15 targets simultaneously. Range: 160 miles (150
nautical miles/ 321.6 km)
E.S.M.: Radar Detector, Passively detects other radars being operated.
FLIR: Forward Looking Infrared. Allows pilot to get visuals on targets at
night.
Anti-Missile Chaff/Flare Dispenser (1): Use the same effects as the TRIAX
model. However, each time the system is engaged, the system fires one chaff and
1D4 flares. ARMOR decoy systems will operate against Phase World missiles due to
similarities in technology. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add
+20% to rolls for smart missiles.) Effects:
01-50 Enemy missile or missile volley detonates in chaff cloud - Missiles are
all destroyed
51-75 Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers
away in wrong direction (May lock onto another target).
76-00 No effect, missiles are still on target
Also note that the chaff cloud will also blind monsters that fly through the
cloud. They will suffer the following penalties: reduce melee attacks/actions,
combat bonuses, and speed by half. Duration: 1D4 melee rounds.
Payload: 20 chaff and 40 flares. Each time the system is engaged, it will
fire off one chaff and 1D4 flares.
Combat Bonuses:
+3 to Strike with Pulse Lasers.
+4 to dodge
+6 to dodge while traveling over 350 mph